Topic: Center stand foot lever - NEW PHOTO ADDED

[Whaleman]

I modified my center stand years ago to line up with the stop on my Jardine 4 into 2. It is harder than stock but still doable. I modified the centerstand for my friends 1980 CB750C ( I know 2 cams please forgive me) when I installed 4 into 2 mufflers. His is impossible to lift up by one person and very hard for 2. I measured the practical lever length on mine (11') and his (7"). I can weld another foot lever on to give maybe 13" lever length.  Am I thinking correctly?  PS: Lever length in my thinking is the distance from where your food pushes to the hinge of the centerstand. Thanks Dan EDIT: Attached is a photo of the bike that is impossibe to put on the centerstand.

[DaveBarbier]

Are you saying it's hard to lift because the exhaust blocks the step lever or that it's hard because of little mechanical advantage after you modified it? Pictures would help or a drawing.

I drew it opposite because I ran out of paper on the left side but something like this? Either A or B? Neither will give you more leverage to lift the bike but B won't work anyway, it'll hit the floor and make the bike be lifted crooked. Am I understanding you?




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1978 Honda CB550K

[tfrasca]

"PS: Lever length in my thinking is the distance from where your food pushes to the hinge of the centerstand. Thanks Dan"

I would think lever length in this situation is the distance from the end of the foot lever to the bottom of the center stand (the part that rests on the pavement.) A longer distance would make it easier to prop the bike up.

[Whaleman]

tfrasca, You may be correct. I would take a picture but my wife is gone for the weekend with the camera.

davidbarbier, It would be like B but to the rear so it would not touch when the bike is on the stand.

Let's wait until I take some photos on Monday. Thanks Much! Dan

[Whaleman]

bump for added photo. Dan

[strynboen]

it must have the right geometri..
.so your vaight..presses dovn. on the tap..and at same time lift the bike. and press it forvard..the point  of senter must be forvard of the centerstand..and a fev cm up,,mine cbx 1000 are more easy then my cb 550..it have a perfekt lift arm

[InAquaVeritas]

As far as the leverage goes, tfrasca is right. The longer the arm (distance hinge to pressure point) the more advantage there is. Moving the peg all the way down to where the stand meets the ground will give you that.

Here in Holland we have pretty strict license requirements, but that means we get a lot of training. One of the main tricks my instructor taught me, has helped me hugely in putting any big bike on its stand. I'm 5'10" and weigh 155 pounds, so it's not always an easy task.
The trick is to no want to pull the back backwards onto its stand, but grab the handlebar and a rail/seat/support at the end, push the bike stand on the ground and straighten out your body. This will help you push down on the stand and lift the bike over the stand at the same time.
I might be kicking in the biggest open door in motorcycle history, but I've noticed a lot of differences in riding technique in countries (also did my test in Australia, very very different).

[enwri]

That big hook-like bit around the pipe wasn't there for looks. I stick few inches of pipe over the end of mine when I haven't got my boots on. Makes it easy enough to lift with bare feet, but also slips off occasionally while halfway up and breaks the front brake lever and flasher lenses when it falls over away from you. probably won't do the pipe thing again.

 should say, further back towards the rear when on the stand, rather than out, in the diagram.

[Whaleman]

enwri, Thanks for the drawing. I believe you are correct. Thanks everyone for the advice. I think I know what to do. Dan

[spiritof67]

Great props to you for having feet tough enough to center stand a CB in bare feet!

[enwri]

Cheated a bit, it's wearing a 4 into 1,  bent the stand to tuck it in closer which made the lever length longer. makes a difference.

[Whaleman]

Thank you enwri, I am suprised and happy to hear that that amount of change made a difference. Dan

[Whaleman]

The new lever is fabricated and welded up. It should work. Can't test yet as I overstretched the spring with coins. New spring next week. Dan